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Thailand - Airline Options

We live in Chicago and are trying to find the best airline options to Bangkok. Cathay Pacific I have heard great things about but the return timing is not great. Korean Air and Asiaia Airlines have earlier return options.

Any thoughts on those airlines? Nice? Own TVs? Any help would be great. Thanks.

I fly ORD-BKK several times a year. I'm really bummed that UA is giving up NRT-BKK routing. ugh... I'm trying ANA in biz next month and will try to report on that experience. Flyertalk doesn't like ANA economy class at all. Glad I'm not in the back of the bus. Our Christmas holiday trip will be via Europe in both directions, using miles. Already booked before saver rates went up. Lucky for us.

I would prefer skipping NRT now, and have looked at HKG as my connecting point, but prices are three times what they are if you fly HKG instead of NRT! What's up with that!!!!!

I'm a million-miler/1K on United, so Star Alliance is my first choice. I have heard good things about Korean, and also Finnair via Europe. Not sure if Finnair flies through ORD?

Carol, Cheryl and I are on Kauai right now, and HT and Mrs HT are staying with us here. We were talking about you last night - about how you were going to get to Bangkok now since United has eliminated the flight to Bangkok. I'll be interested to hear about your various flight experiences. Cheryl and I are thinking about a Hong Kong/Bangkok combination, but yes, the flights HKG-BKK seem quite expensive.

Ooooh I wish I were on Kauai right now! We had more snow last night. I'm so tired of winter!

I have 3 BKK trips already lined up for the rest of 2014. April ORD to BKK is paid biz that upgraded to first class, via SFO and NRT. The return in early May is BKK-FRA (Thai A380 in biz)-ORD in first, saver award. July is a paid business r.t. ORD-NRT-BKK and reverse. December holiday trip is saver ORD-FRA-BKK in first class with a return in January 2015 thru Stockholm onThai and SAS in biz on 2-class planes.

I will certainly try to fly via HKG in 2015 and onward if pricing seems to get more in line with NRT flights. Flights via Europe are always more expensive so I only do them with saver awards.

We used EVA Air to Thailand twice. They have an "Evergreen" class - sort of like Economy Plus -- for just a couple of hundred more than economy. Excellent service. At the time, we received Continental miles, but don't know if they transferred as a partner to United when the two airlines merged.

A few quick suggestions: use the Asian airlines whenever you can. The difference between them and United or American is amazing. Economy in THAI or Cathay or Singapore Airlines is as good as Business Class on the US airlines. Once you are in Thailand do NOT fly on Nok Air. This airline is a complete rip off. Although their prices look good, my wife had a bag being held by them for her go missing (stolen by Nok) and one time when I was booking flights and their website malfunctioned and overcharged me by 20% I tried to get it corrected. An hour later all I had for my troubles was a headache. Lots of "I'm sorry's," but no action. AVOID NOK AIR. It's not the deal it appears.

"Economy in THAI or Cathay or Singapore Airlines is as good as Business Class on the US airlines."

Well, no, economy on Thai, Cathay or Singapore Air have seats just as crammed together as US airlines. There are no economy seats that are lay-flat like Biz class on, United, say. Service is lovely on the Asian airlines. But you wouldn't confuse a 10 hour flight on an Asian airline with a 10 hour flight in Business Class on any US airline.

Discussions on flyertalk are referring to ANA as flying in a sardine can in economy. I have flights in business class coming up. I think they will be OK, although I cannot pick my seat, so hope I am not in the middle. But economy on ANA for a 6' tall person? I don't think so. I would have MUCH preferred staying with United from NRT-BKK in economy plus or exit row seating. ANA exit row, according to flyertalk, has NO room for stretching out. Many folks on flyertalk are changing their flying habits to SIN and BKK by avoiding NRT/HND so as to send a message to UA. Pretty much 75% or more FTers are very unhappy with UA over this decision to stop serving BKK airport.